Teddy Bekele is a lecturer at the University of Minnesota’s Technology Leadership Institute (TLI), where he teaches digital transformation, equipping leaders with the tools to navigate and leverage technological change. As Chief Technology Officer at Land O’Lakes, Teddy drives digital innovation, leading enterprise-wide strategies in technology, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
Teddy holds a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University. His expertise has been featured in 60 Minutes, Fortune Magazine, MIT Sloan Management Review, and Gartner. He has earned notable recognitions, including WCCO’s “Minnesotan to Meet” (2017), the Twin Cities Outstanding Directors Award (2022), the MinnesotaCIO ORBIE® CIO Leadership Award (2022), and inclusion on Forbes’ CIO Next 50 list (2023).
In addition to his corporate and academic roles, Teddy serves as Chair of the Minnesota Broadband Task Force and is the former Chair of the FCC-USDA Task Force for Precision Agriculture Connectivity and Adoption. He is also a Board Director for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Twin Cities Public Television (TPT), and the NACD Minnesota Chapter. Fluent in Italian and Amharic, Teddy brings a global perspective shaped by living on three continents. He now resides in Minneapolis, MN, where he continues to advance innovation and leadership in technology and agriculture.
Education
Master of Business Administration
Indiana University
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
North Carolina State University
